Hinge structure

ABSTRACT

A hinge structure fabricated from plastic material and comprised of two stem-like parts detachably hinged together and arranged to be mounted in and secured to related parts easily and quickly.

O United States Patent 1191 1111 3,805,327 Walker Apr. 23, 1974 HINGESTRUCTURE 3,213,507 10/1965 Christian et a1. 24/208 A 3,141,190 7/1964Reiss 16/171 [75] Inventor. Robert Walker, St. Charles, 111. 3,349,428[0/1967 suskam. [6/128 R 73 Assignee; Robert Manufacturing company,3,349,429 10/1967 Suska 16/128 R Wheaton, I11.

[22] Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 Primary Examiner-Bobhy R. Gay pp No: 236,466 7Assistant Exarnmer-Dons C. Troutman [52] US. Cl 16/159, 16/171 57ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl E05d 5/02 1 [58] Field Of Search 16/150, 159, 171;A hinge structure fabricated from plastic material and 24/208 214;220/31 SR comprised of two stem-like parts detachably hinged togetherand arranged to be mounted in and secured [56] References C'ted torelated parts easily and quickly.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,049,747 8/1962 McDonald 16/159 3 Claims, 5Drawing Figures HINGE STRUCTURE The invention relates to improvements inhinges and is particularly concerned with a hinge structure fabricatedwholly from plastic material, such as glass filled mylon, in twocomplemental parts each of which has novel means for securing it to apiece of material. The hinge illustrated is designed for use in modelmaking, but can be utilized fully in connection with other products.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a hinge structureof the character referred to.

Another object is to provide a hinge structure that is easy to installsecurely.

Another object is to provide a hinge structure comprised of two pieceshaving a snap-fit connection.

Another object is to provide a hinge structure that can be molded andwhich is easily assembled.

Another object is to provide a hinge structure which is not expensive ordifficult to manufacture and one that can be mounted easily and quicklyand is very efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent withreference to the following description and accompanying drawing In thedrawings:

FIG. 1, is an enlarged elevational view of the hinge, showing itmounted.

FIG. 2 is another elevational view of the hinge, viewed on a plane 90from the plane of the FIG. 1 illustration.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail central sectional view of the hingedlyconnected ends of the hinge elements.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the hingedly connected end ofone of the elements.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the hingedly connected end ofthe other element, showing it partly in section.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure of the invention as shown in theaccompanying drawings, the hinge structure is comprised of two hingeelements 11 and 12. Each of the elements is substantially rod-like inshape and the element 11 includes a stem portion 11a and a head portion11b. The stem portion is preferably formed with a pointed end 13 and aseries of circumferential ribs 14 spaced apart along its stem 11a.

Each ofthese ribs 14 defines an annular shoulder 14a facing the headportion 11b. The element 12 also includes a stern portion 12a and a headportion 12b. The stem portion 12a is preferably formed with a pointedend 15 and a series of circumferential ribs 16 spaced apart along saidstern. Each of these ribs defines a shoulder 16a facing the head portion12b.

The head portion 11b of the element 11, which is best shown in FIGS. 3and 5, is circular in shape and has one-half of its diameter cut away toprovide an end nose portion 17. This nose portion has a transverse axialpassage 18 formed on two diameters to provide an internal shoulder 19therein.

The head portion 12b of element 12, which is best shown in FIGS. 3 and4, is also circular in shape and has one-half of its diameter cut awayto provide an end nose portion 21. A stud 22 projects from the flat face23 of the head portion 1217. This stud is so located on the head portion1212 that it will enter into the passage 18 in head portion 1 lb whenthe two head portions 11b and 12b are matched as shown in. FIG. 3.

It should be noted that the stud 22 includes an end portion 22a ofenlarged diameter that is snap fitted through the smaller diameter ofpassage 18 and nests in the larger diameter behind the shoulder 19. Inthis manner the hinge assembly is secured and the hinge elements 11 and12 can be separated only upon the application of force between theopposed flat'faces of the respective head portions and prying themapart.

The elements 11 and 12 may be best secured firmly to the parts they areto hingedly connect, such as the a members 23,24 shown in FIG. 1, bydrilling a hole 25 in each member and then, after the application ofglue or other adhesive to either the holes or onto the serrated stems11a and 12a, inserting the stems into their respective holes andallowing same to set.

It should be apparent that the instant hinge, because of its stem-typemounting elements, can be mounted upon any type of article withoutrequiring a flat mounting surface as is required by wing-type hinges.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description thereofis intended to be il lustrative rather than restrictive, as details ofthe structure may be modified or changed without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to berestricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

1. A hinge comprising a straight rod-like element rounded at one end, alongitudinal fiat portion at said rounded end reducing its thickness inone direction to one-half its diameter, a companion straight rod'likeelement rounded at one end, a longitudinal flat portion at said roundedend reducing its thickness in one direction to one-half its diameter, anintegral stud upstanding from the flat surface of one of said flatportions, the other flat portion having a dual diameter aperturedefining an internal shoulder therein to receive said stud thereintowhen the two flattened surfaces are arranged face to face, said studbeing slightly enlarged at its free end to frictionally engage behindthe shoulder in the aperture to resist its withdrawal, and a pluralityof spaced apart annular shoulders on substantially the remaining portionof each rod-like element, said annular shoulders facing the respectiverounded ends to resist withdrawal of the elements from apertures inarticles into which they are driven so as to hingedly connect saidarticles together.

2. The hinge recited in claim 1, in which said elements are fabricatedfrom resiliently compressible plastic material.

3. The hinge recited in claim 1, in which longitudinally spacedcircumferential ribs are provided on the surface of each rod-likeelement to define said annular shoulders.

1. A hinge comprising a straight rod-like element rounded at one end, alongitudinal flat portion at said rounded end reducing its thickness inone direction to one-half its diameter, a companion straight rod-likeelement rounded at one end, a longitudinal flat portion at said roundedend reducing its thickness in one direction to one-half its diameter, anintegral stud upstanding from the flat surface of one of said flatportions, the other flat portion having a dual diameter aperturedefining an internal shoulder therein to receive said stud thereintowhen the two flattened surfaces are arranged face to face, said studbeing slightly enlarged at its free end to frictionally engage behindthe shoulder in the aperture to resist its withdrawal, and a pluralityof spaced apart annular shoulders on substantially the remaining portionof each rod-like element, said annular shoulders facing the respectiverounded ends to resist withdrawal of the elements from apertures inarticles into which they are driven so as to hingedly connect saidarticles together.
 2. The hinge recited in claim 1, in which saidelements are fabricated from resiliently compressible plastic material.3. The hinge recited in claim 1, in which longitudinally spacedcircumferential ribs are provided on the surface of each rod-likeelement to define said annular shoulders.